It’s time to take the kids fishing

Pack up your fishing gear and head out to Camp Powhatan Saturday to enjoy a day of free fun with the kids during Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ annual Kid’s Fishing Day.

This is the fifth year DGIF conservation officers have joined with Pulaski County, Boy Scouts of America, Friends of Claytor Lake, hunter education instructors and local law enforcement, firefighters and emergency services personnel to host the popular event at the Boy Scout camp off Max Creek Road.

About 1,000 pounds of stocked trout is available in Camp Powhatan’s 2.5-acre lake for the kids to catch. Prizes will be awarded 1-2 p.m. and when they’re not fishing the children can play on a 75-foot-long air obstacle course, take part in a BB gun shoot on the camp’s rifle range, learn about wildlife from a Claytor Lake State Park interpreter, register for the chance to win a .50-caliber Thompson Center Muzzle loading rifle and more.

River of Life Church in Dublin will provide lunch at 11 a.m. There will also be popcorn and snow cones, and Southern Nights Band is providing musical entertainment.

The goal of the event is to introduce the New River Valley’s youth to one of the nation’s most popular pastimes. Plus, it is hoped that getting youth outdoors will help combat one of the major obstacles facing them today – childhood obesity.

The event is held rain or shine from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Children ages 15 and younger can take part in fishing. Adults can assist, but they will not be able to fish. Participants should bring their own fishing gear, which is limited to one rod per participant.

The catch limit is three trout per child.

No fishing license is required for the youth to participate. All fishing must be done from the banks of the lake. No boats or wading is allowed.

Although the registration deadline to receive a t-shirt has passed, children are welcome to register as walk-ins the day of the event.